Potions by Rebecca Downey and John Sgammato is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games Inc. for use with Hârn and HârnMaster.
The supplement is available as a 38-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $19.99 but was purchased at a reduced price thanks to a special offer. Two pages are ads.
The opening paragraph explains that potions are found all over Lythia in many different places, some being well known whilst others, for various reasons, are rarer. Whilst magical effects are sometimes claimed, most are intended to be common remedies. In areas where the guilds thrive, Apothecaries have a monopoly on potions, though there is an overlap with other remedies and unlicensed sellers are not uncommon.
Most potions follow approved formula and packaged and sold in accordance with strict formulae and rules and they have prices set by the Apothecaries’ Guild, though price can vary depending on local supply and demand. A sidebar looks at how guild-made potions are labelled and stored.
Potion Descriptions explains how the details that comprise the main part of the supplement are laid out. Potions can be common, uncommon or rare, and this can differ depending on region. Each potion has claimed effects, but whilst most are exaggerated, outright lies are usually illegal. There are details on how the potions are prepared and stored, the dosage to be used, their price and their effects. A sidebar covers using potions and random effects caused by using those of indeterminate age or from combining potions.
Sources looks at the different places that potions can be bought from; Apothecaries, chandlers, herbalists, potionsellers and shaman, with a sidebar looking at availability depending on the seller and the potion’s rarity.
Preparing Potions looks at how potions are made and how new formula are developed; this is rarely done as it requires testing them on a live subject who may have relatives who will get upset. For true research, it’s recommended to look at HârnMaster Magic. A sidebar has rules on potion preparation and on making alchemical potions, which is only done by those who are members of both the Apothecaries’ Guild and of the Guild of Arcane Lore.
The rest of the supplement is taken up by descriptions of different potions, 32 in total at one to a page. Each page is laid out the same way, with an illustration, potion name and description, claims and expectations, preparation, storage and dosage, with a sidebar giving name, type, availability, preparation difficult and price/dose, and HârnMaster effects for the potion and other related details.
Potions in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and has enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation is poor. The text maintains a single column with sidebar format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of colour and black and white illustrations, including one for each potion. Presentation is decent.
It should be noted that “potion” has a range of meanings for this supplement. It also includes things such as ink, Khuzan condiments, strange liquors and poisons. Only one has any enchantments used with it, so they are essentially non-magical in nature. Though there are HârnMaster details for each potion, the majority of the description is fluff, so converting them, despite the amount of HârnMaster stats, to use with other systems should not be too difficult. In addition, though a number are connected to the Hârn setting, they would be comparatively easy to use in other settings too. Potions is an interesting collection of substances and it can be found by clicking here.
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